Best Drugstore Foundations

Posted on 05/11/2016

Carli and I love a good deal, as you know. We buy a lot of our makeup at the drugstore and we’re positive that you don’t need to spend a lot on good quality products. With that said, foundation is something we’re a little picky about. I mean it goes directly on your face. So we can’t just use something that’s going to clog our pores and melt right off. Our favorite foundation is definitely the Too Faced Born This Way. But it’s $39 so we try to savor it for as long as we can. One way we do this is by wearing drugstore foundation during the work week, and break out our favorite high-end foundations on the weekend. It’s probably saved us a lot of money over time!

We’ve done extensive testing on different drugstore foundations and have found some that work, some we love, and some that just didn’t work for our skin type (don’t you hate when that happens?!).

For reference we have oily, non-sensitive skin that’s a true beige shade. So we have to stick with matte foundations to control oil throughout the day. We tried to make this list as versatile as possible so we’ll talk about the pros of each foundation below and which ones work best for each skin type.

L’oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation– Our all time favorite! You guys know we love L’oreal and when this foundation came out we instantly fell in love. It’s a true matte finish that literally lasts all day. We always have to blot our face at least once a day, except when we wear this. The consistency isn’t too thick and feels nice on the skin. However the shade selection is poor, so we have to mix 102 & 104 to match our skin.

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation– A close second to the Infallible foundation. Unlike that product, the shade selection is amazing! I think they have 24 different shades. It’s also one of the more affordable foundations on the list. It’s only $6 at Target! The consistency is pretty thin, so if you want a fuller coverage you definitely have to build it. Because of the consistency this foundation looks very natural on the skin, and dries more of a demi-matte finish. It does have lasting power when set with powder!

Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation – We recently tried this foundation after hearing rave reviews. The consistency is about that of the Infallible foundation. The shade selection isn’t large BUT they aren’t as warm as other brands. We don’t get why most foundations have a serious peach undertone. So for that reason the shade blends well with the skin. This is a medium-full coverage and creates a nice flawless finish. I would also say this is a demi-matte finish. I don’t know that it lasts as long as it claims, but it will last all day!

L’oreal True Match Foundation– While this foundation isn’t made for oily skin, we wanted to include it anyways. If you have dry skin and don’t need a lot of coverage this would be great for you! It’s very buildable & blendable and is enriched with vitamins to nourish your skin.

Covergirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation – When a foundation claims to have a concealer built in that usually just means it’s a full coverage product, but you still have to apply concealer to cover up those dark circles. But if you like full coverage foundations like us you’ll like this product! This foundation is like the Infallible in that it dries quickly to a true matte finish. If you like the Infallible foundation give this one a try as well!

Maybelline Superstay Better Skin Foundation– This foundation claims to make your skin brighter, more even, and smoother (it contains vitamin C). Foundations are meant to even out your skin and cover up imperfections so it’s just an added bonus when they actually improve your skin. This foundation is a lighter coverage then we usually reach for, but it is buildable. If you have dull or sensitive skin give this a try!

L’oreal True Match Lumi Cushion Foundation– This is another foundation that has pretty sheer coverage BUT it is definitely the best cushion foundation on the market. It’s a great product for people with dry skin, since it gives a luminous finish.

Milani Conceal + Perfect Foundation – It makes me sad to tell you that this foundation did not work for us. Milani is our favorite drugstore brand so we were thrilled to find out they were releasing a foundation. The packaging is the best of the bunch. It comes in a glass bottle with a pump! It’s a pretty thick foundation but once applied with a beauty blender it creates a really beautiful airbrushed finish. However, about an hour after we applied this our face became super oily. Like we were glistening hard. So if you have dry skin please do yourself a favor and pick this up! You’ll love it! If you have oily skin like us you may want to steer clear.

Yeah it is! And no, a foundation has never made us breakout. We’re lucky! We know a lot of people can’t wear full coverage foundations because they can clog pores and cause breakouts, but since we have oily skin we usually reach for more of a full coverage matte foundation!

Great post! Have you guys tried the CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous foundation? If not, I say you should. It’s lightweight, oil-free, provides medium and buildable coverage, and doesn’t make you breakout. Only thing it gives a natural finish instead of matte since I too have oily/combo skin.